1x28

Angels and Demons

"What happened to her, James?"- Locke asked Sawyer when arrived at the hatch holding an unconscious Ana-Lucia on his arms.

"I'm already tired of answering that question!"- Sawyer angrily said. "I don't know, it is just happening.

Locke noticed how much Sawyer was struggling to keep carrying her so he took Ana-Lucia from his arms and carried her to the bed.

"Craig told me that Charlie got hurt."

"Yes, he fell from the ceiling."

"And, where is he? Is Jack with him?"

He had just asked that question and Eko arrived at the hatch carrying Charlie. He was being followed closer by Claire, Jack and Kate.

"Charlie, how are you?"- Locke asked him right away.

"I feel terrible, John, don't you see?"

"Let's put him on the sofa."- Jack said.

Eko carefully placed Charlie on the sofa. Jack checked his wound again.

"The splint is working but the cut needs a few stiches. Kate, could you clean the wound, please? I need to check on Ana-Lucia.

Kate nodded. She got cotton and ether and carefully started cleaning Charlie's wound. He bit his lips in pain and held Claire's hand.

"The worst is not over, I think it's just starting."- Charlie whined to his partnet.

"I'm going back to the beach."- Craig said; seeing all that blood was getting to his stomach fast.

Jack examined Ana-Lucia attentively as he was trying to understand what had happened to her. He wet a piece fabric with ethanol and approached from her nose attempting to wake her up. Sawyer cleaned the blood that had slid over her legs with a wet towel.

"My baby…"- She cried finally opening her eyes.

"What's going to happen, Jack?"

He ran his hand over his head.

"I'm not sure, Sawyer. Her pregnancy was complicated from the very beginning. You knew that didn't you?"

He nodded.

"But still her pregnancy was going well, five months already."

"Six."- Sawyer corrected him. He caressed her stomach. "I should've paid more attention to her."

"It's not your fault, Sawyer."- Jack said.

"My baby..."- She cried again.

Sawyer's heart was aching but he stayed there by her side. Ana-Lucia suddenly started coughing and opened her eyes; she looked scared and confused. She tried to sit on the bed. Sawyer and Jack helped her. Kate stopped cleaning Charlie's wound for a minute to look at her. Eko, Claire and Charlie also paid attention.

Ana-Lucia was tearish when she desperately said:

"No, I'm losing my baby…I can't lose it. My child!"

Sawyer didn't know what to say to her. Ana-Lucia touched her belly. She was feeling cramps and thought she was having a miscarriage. She screamed. Jack got concerned because he knew that even if she loses the baby her life was at risk too. A miscarriage on the sixth month of pregnancy was extremely dangerous.

The computer alarm sounded. Locke ran to go type the code and push the button.

"It hurts so much. Sawyer. I can't lose my baby now!"- She said cried.

He tried hard not to cry but his eyes were as tearish as hers. Eko pulled out his chaplet from his pocket and started praying loud hoping God would save Ana and her baby. Claire started crying too. Charlie had already forgotten his own pain when he heard the cry for help from a mother losing her child.

Kate felt a knot in her stomach. Her face was pale. She left Charlie and ran towards the bathroom locking the door after her. She was sobbing. The next moment she couldn't stop herself of throwing in the toilette.

"Oh, god!"- She said opening the bathroom sink. She threw water on her face and mouth. She looked herself at the mirror and raised her shirt before touching her belly. "I must tell Jack!"

Outside, the situation was getting worse. Ana-Lucia was losing blood that was staining the white sheet. Sawyer was pale, white as paper. He was holding her hand but feeling useless.

Jack was desperately looking on their medical stash for something that could help her. He found a strong medication that would help stop the bleeding but there wasn't guarantee that the baby's development wouldn't be affected or that her pregnancy would still continue but he had to take the risk. He filled a glass with water and rushed to her.

He looked at Sawyer and took a deep breath before saying:

"I can't promise you this is going to…"

"But is there a chance to save our baby?"- He asked in a muffled voice because was holding up a sob.

Jack nodded. Sawyer rushed to give her the medication.

"Baby, listen to me. Take this and everything is going to be alright. We're not losing our baby. I'm here with ya, I won't leave your side."

She screamed again. The pain was becoming unbearable. She couldn't stop crying.

"Ana, come on, take it, please."- Sawyer asked again. She drank the water and swallow the pill but ended up spilling some water back on the glass.

The liquid spilt by her was a strange green substance, something that looked acid. Jack got the glass from her hands and examined it.

"It will be all ok, cariño. I love you."- Sawyer whispered to her ear without letting go of her hand. She was still shaking. That was the first time he was admitting his love for her in public. He was so afraid of losing her. He couldn't even imagine it. He felt like his heart was breaking in millions of little pieces. "I love you."- He said again. She calmed down listening to the sound of his voice.

"This is poison!"- Jack yelled.

"What are you talking about?"- Kate asked when she heard Jack exalted. She just had come out of the bathroom.

"Poison?"- Sawyer nervously asked.

"Somebody is trying to get her to miscarriage."- Jack concluded.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

On Ana-Lucia's tent, Debbie had already gathered the clothes she supposed to take to Ana-Lucia twenty minutes ago, however she couldn't hold her curiosity and started looking over the ex-cop belongings. She didn't know for sure what she was looking for, maybe something that would give her any clue about how Ana-Lucia and Sawyer's relationship was. Something that would tell her how Ana was able to catch the bad boy and keep him with her for so long.

Finally, after looking over her clothes, make up, shoes and other personal objects she found a shirt from Sawyer. She got it and hugged it against her face, feeling his scent. She decided not to take the shirt with her thought because they could miss it. She looked around a little more but found nothing interesting.

She stayed there just sitting for a few more minutes. She was already feeling frustrated when she finally she decided to get up and take the backpack with Ana's clothes to the hath when she saw Ana-Lucia's brown leather jacket, folded over a shelf made with wood pieces. That was the same jacket was wearing the day she arrived on their camp.

Debbie placed the backpack on the sand and got the jacket. She checked the pockets. A mischievous smiled was formed on her lips when she found a piece of paper inside of one of the pockets; however soon her smile faded when she realized what that paper was about. It was a piece of paper from the Dharma's notepad. On the sheet, there were some verses handwritten in a very beautiful letter. There wasn't a date on the paper. She read:

"Ana, your lips are like a maze…

Ana…you attract my wildest instincts

Your always distant gaze almost fools me

I'm addicted to you every day more.

From your Cowboy also known as Tex from Hell

Sawyer"

Debbie felt like ripping that paper to bits. What was so special about hat woman? She wasn't even very femenine. But Sawyer was addicted to her, what she could do about it?

She folded back the paper and put it back to the jacket's pocket. As soon as she was leaving the tent to go to the hatch, she saw Libby and became scared. She ended up dropping the backpack on the ground.

"What are you doing in Ana's tent, Debbie?"- Libby asked right away.

"I was just grabbing a few things for her. Sawyer asked me too. She isn't feeling well."

'I know. Craig just told me. I just came to do exactly that so you can let me take this backpack.

"No, Libby. I'll do it. I promised Sawyer."

Libby got the backpack anyways.

"Debbie, don't try to take your hands where your arm can't reach it."

"What are you talking about?"

"You know better than I do."- Libby said with a fake smile. "Now if you excuse me, I'm taking this to my best friend."

Debbie had no choice. She got upset and left walking towards Rose and Bernard's tent. Libby hurried up to go to the hatch. She was really concerned about Ana.

xxxxxxxxx

Jack was sitting by the kitchen table, analysing the green liquid inside the glass. Kate was sitting in front of him. She was feeling unwell but she didn't tell anybody. Charlie was sleeping with Claire by his side. Jack had finished stitching his leg. The English man would be fine.

Ana-Lucia had also fallen asleep. Sawyer was sitting in a chair beside the bed, watching her sleep. He had changed the dirty sheets with Kate's help. He had also undressed Ana-Lucia and covered her with clean sheets. However, he was wondering why Debbie was taking so long to bring her clothes.

Poison? He said to himself. That was so absurd! If that was what was causing trouble to Ana-Lucia, he realized Jack's rules would never been followed in that community. The only thing that could work on that island was the jungle law and that one he knew pretty well. Somebody was trying to murder his woman and child. It didn't matter to why or who was doing it, as soon as he find out who it was, he would kill the damn bastard.

Before the circumstances, Locke decided to go to the beach and find Sun. It was no secret to anybody that the Korean woman knew a lot about the healing power of plants. She could probably tell them what kind of poison was given to Ana-Lucia.

Jack was very concerned because he didn't know how much poison she had taken. Would that be a mortal substance?

Kate was also lost in her thoughts. She couldn't stop thinking about something that she had been suspicious for the past three weeks, something she hasn't yet shared with Jack.

She knew it was perfectly possible. She even thought it took a while to happen considering the way she was taking her relationship with Jack. However, if her suspicious were correct what would be Jack's reaction?

He seemed to be concerned many times about it: "The island didn't have structure for this" he used to say. But how to avoid it? She couldn't go one single night without being in his arms.

"No, that can't be!"- Jack suddenly said.

"What, Jack?"- Kate asked him.

"I just thought about something."- He whispered, making a gesture for her to come closer to him.

"About what?"

"Do you think there is a possibility that Shannon had done this to Ana-Lucia? Months ago, she threatened to shoot her."

Kate wider her eyes in shock. She hadn't thought about that possibility but Jack had a point. After attacking Ana-Lucia before Shannon automatically had turned into the number 1 suspect but would she really be capable of doing such a thing?

"Jack, if she did it…oh, my God! If something happens to Ana, Sawyer will…"

"Shhhh..."- Jack told her. "I'm going to the construction site to look for Sayid. When Sun arrives, show her the glass."

Kate nodded.

Sawyer realized Jack was leaving and said:

"Where ya going, doc? You're scheduled full time for the emergency-room tonight."

"Don't worry, Sawyer, she won't wake up for a while. The medicine will keep her asleep. Keep an eye on her and make sure the bleeding has stopped. That would be a great sign. I'll be right back."

"What about Charlie?"- Claire asked.

"Charlie will also sleep for a few hours."

Jack left. The doctor was concerned. How would he tell Sayid about his suspicions?

At the hatch's door he met Libby that was bringing Ana's backpack.

"Hey, Jack. How is she? Is the baby alright?"

"It's too soon to say something, Libby."

"Can I see her? I brought her some clothes."

"Yes, sure. Sawyer is with her right now."

"Where are you going?"

"To deal with something."- He said with a determined look on his face.

He was walking in the jungle when he heard Kate calling for him. He turned to her.

"Is everything ok, Kate?"- He asked noticing she was anxious. He had noticed that since he saw her in the morning at the garden but he didn't have had time to ask her what was going on.

Kate touched his face. Jack smiled.

"What's wrong, love? Do you already miss me? - He hugged her. "I know we haven't talked properly today with all this situation but…"

- Jack...

She pecked him on his lips. Jack kissed her back the same way. Kate kissed him again, three little kisses that Jack made it deeper, involving his arms around her tiny waist. Then he stopped kissing her. He really had to go talk to Sayid.

"Baby, I must go."

"I know."- what she had to say was stuck in her throat and she knew that wasn't probably a good time to tell him but she didn't want to keep that from him anymore. For that reason, she shot at him: "I think I might be pregnant."

Jack felt the ground missing under his feet, his throat suddenly became dried and he felt that breathing was too hard. He ran his hand over his head.

"Jack?"- Kate said, apprehensively. She couldn't decipher the meaning of the expression on his face.

"Are you...?"

"I'm almost sure."- She answered, the anxiety was growing inside her stomach.

"Oh, my God!"- He said running his hand over his head again. "We were careful, how it did…"

Kate got upset.

"Yes, we did but you as a doctor should know better than anyone that the only thing that really works to prevent a baby is not having sex. - a tear fell out of her eyes.

"Kate, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"You feel sorry? That's great!"- She ran through the forest. Jack ran after her and got her, holding her against his arms.

She tried to escape from him.

"Kate, Kate, Kate!- He repeated her name trying to get her to look at him. "Why do you always want to run away when something important happens? No, baby, this time I won't let you run!

Kate yelled:

"No, let me go! I don't want to hear what you have to say."

"Why not? You don't even know what I'm going to say, you keep trying to predict my reactions. Listen to me, please!"

She stopped pushing him and looked into his eyes.

"Kate, love."- a tear fell out of his brown-greenish eyes. "This is the best news I've ever received in my entire life."

Kate felt her heart beat increasing when she listened to his words but she said nothing; she let him finish speaking.

"I've always wanted to have a child but it just didn't happen. Having a child with you? Wow!"- He smiled. "Maybe it is more than I deserve."

She hugged him. Jack kissed the top of her head, rocking her in his arms.

"I love you."- She whispered.

Jack caressed her hair and made her look at him again. He touched her forehead with his.

"How long do you think you are?"

"I'm not sure but my period has been late for three weeks. Besides I'm feeling sleepy all the time, I have nauseas and I'm always hungry. I'm feeling huge, bloated!"

"Right. How didn't I notice before?" You're so fat that we'll have to make the hatch's door bigger so you can get in."- He teased her.

Kate playfully punched his shoulder and laughed.

"May I?"- He asked pointing to her stomach. Kate nodded and he raised her t-shirt. There were no clear signs of a pregnancy yet.

Jack got down and kissed her stomach. Tears were falling from Kate's eyes. She was feeling emotional. It was the most important moment of her life.

"I'm afraid, Kate."- He admitted. "If we were in any other place, I could take better care of you, to get you all the assistance you need for our baby. But here? There's no much we can do. Do you see what's happening to Ana?

Kate nodded.

"I know there's more to it but if we could take her to a hospital it would be so much better than staying here speculating what is happening to her. It is not just the baby's life that is at risk but also hers. We were lucky with Claire and Sun but now I fear for you, Kate."

She kissed the tears from his eyes, tasting the salt of them on her lips.

"It doesn't matter, I trust you. In this world full of strangers wher, you're the only I really know. I couldn't be happier to be carrying your child. My life is finally starting to make sense. Before I was always running away, pathless, without knowing what to expect from the next day. Now this is over. I'll have my own baby and I'll put my feet on the ground and every time I look at him or her, I'll be seeing your eyes on theirs and my happiness will be complete.

Jack couldn't hold back anymore. But his crying wasn't of sadness. He took her hands on his:

"We're going to face it together, I'll be always by your side. Nothing bad is going to happen. We're having a baby!

Kate smiled. She was feeling over the moon. She kissed him. Jack raised her from the ground and Kate involved his legs around his body. They kissed passionately.

"Dude!"- Hurley said embarrassed for catching them in such an intimate moment. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt…"

"But interrupting already..."- said Jack putting Kate down.

Kate dried her tears with the back of her hands.

"I came to see how is Charlie doing. Is Libby at the hatch?"

"Yes, she is. She came to bring some clothes to Ana."- Jack said.

"And, how is she? Craig said something bizarre has happened to her."

"I'm not sure yet, Hurley…"

"Jack?"- Sun called for him. She was just arriving with Locke and Sayid.

"Sun, I'm glad you here. Did John say what's happening?"

"Yes, she said."

"Jack, I just took the initiative to bring Sayid here. I thought that due to the circumstances you would like to talk to him."

"Thank you, John."- Jack said. "Sayid?"

"I have an idea why you want to talk to me."- He honestly said.

Tension filled the air. Locke had gotten to the beach and found Sun right away at the construction site. He told her what was happening to Ana-Lucia and they both have had the same thought. Could Shannon be poisoning Ana somehow?

Locke decided to tell Sayid about his suspicions, Shannon was his wife after all. The Iraqi seemed apprehensive but he agreed with Locke when he suggested for him to go talk to Jack.

"I don't expect that you think that I…"- Jack started trying to make things easier but Sayid interrupted him.

"I'm really not thinking anything of it yet but I want to listen to what you have to say."

The two of them left, walking further in the jungle. The others went back to the hatch. Sun needed to get her own conclusions. Inside, Eko was reading one of the library books, concentrated He raised his eyes when he saw Sun, Locke, Kate and Hurley coming in.

When she heard their steps, Claire got up from the sofa and went to see who had arrived.

"Sun, where's Aaron?"

"He's still with Rose. He's napping now. How's Charlie?"

"He's sleeping."- Claire said.

"Come on, Sun, it is right here on the table.- Kate said referring to Ana-Lucia's glass.

Sawyer and Libby had just finished dressing Ana. She was still sleeping. Her appearance weakened but she seemed more calm.

"Ok, Sun, what is this?"- Sawyer asked when he saw her looking into the glass with a lot of attention.

"It's toxic, I'm sure. It looks like digitalis but it is not just that. If it was only digitalis she'd be dead by now. It is mixed with some other kind of plant, probably aiming to decrease the toxicity of the digitalis making her to miscarriage but not killing her.

Sun approached Ana-Lucia and watched her.

"But she has stopped bleeding. Jack gave her some medicine"- Sawyer informed her.

"I'm so sorry, Sawyer but even if she doesn't miscarriage, the possibilities that your child was affected by the poison are high."

"Can you try something? Can you make one of your magical potions to save them?"

Sun took a deep breath. She was resigned. The other ones were watching her with hopeful eyes, waiting for her to do a miracle to save mother and baby.

"The only way to help her it would be finding out how much of the poison she took. I could prepare a tea that it would help to eliminate the substance from her blood circulation but there wouldn't be any guarantees.

"It doesn't matter!"- Sawyer emphasized. "Sun, please do anything you can but do it. Save Ana and our baby, please…"

To be continued...